A monster hit for Milton's Slate and a triple play for Carell

Dana Barbuto The Patriot Ledger

Thursday

Oct 18, 2018 at 1:05 PMOct 18, 2018 at 1:28 PM

Milton actress and comedienne Jenny Slate, who earned critical acclaim in her first leading role in 2014’s well-received indie “Obvious Child,” has another hit on her hands with the comic-book flick, “Venom,” the number one film at the box office for two consecutive weeks. Starring Tom Hardy as the title character, the film has earned $142.8 million to date domestically and $379 worldwide. Slate plays Dr. Dora Skirth, a scientist at the Life Foundation, a biotech run by the nefarious Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed).

Slate was valedictorian of her Milton Academy class in 2000. She returned to her alma mater to deliver the commencement address in 2013. She recently wrapped filming an adaptation of Rebecca Dinerstein’s “The Sunlit Night,” due out next year. Slate’s film work also includes “Hotel Artemis,” “Landline,” “Gifted,” “Joshy,” “My Blind Brother,” “Aardvark.” A busy voice-over actress, Slate has lent her distinct vocals to characters in “Zootopia,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “The Lego Batman Movie,” “The Lorax” and as a gawky teen on Netflix’s raunchy animated series “Big Mouth.”

Next, Slate is taking her stand-up act on the road and will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Wilbur Theater, 246 Tremont St., Boston. Tickets cost $39 at 617- 248-9700 or thewilbur.com.

A TRIPLE PLAY FOR CARELL

Actor Steve Carell, who owns the Marshfield Hills General Store, is gearing up for a big fall movie season with three films on tap. The first, “Beautiful Boy,” opens in theaters Friday. In it, Carell plays a devoted father to a drug-addicted son (Timothee Chalamet). Both actors are receiving awards-season buzz for their terrific performances.

On Dec. 21, Carell headlines “Welcome to Marwen,” director Robert Zemeckis’ fact-based film about beating victim Mark Hogancamp — the subject of the 2010 documentary “Marwencol.” The third movie, “Vice,” a biopic about former Vice President Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) features Carell in a supporting role as Donald Rumsfeld. Out Christmas Day, the movie reunites Carell and his “The Big Short” director Adam McKay and co-star Bale.

Carell is married to Cohasset native, actress-writer Nancy Walls Carell. She is a "Saturday Night Live" alum and also had parts in the hit comedy "Bridesmaids" and "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World." They created the TBS cop comedy “Angie Tribeca,” which will premiere a fourth season on TBS this year.

TWO BIG PROJECTS FOR KINGSTON’S COOPER

Kingston actor Chris Cooper is in position to have a busy Oscar season next year. The Academy Award winner is filming two prestige projects, “Little Women” and the Mr. Rogers biopic “You Are My Friend,” starring Tom Hanks in the title role. Both movies are slated for a 2019 release.

Cooper is the latest A-lister to join Greta Gerwig’s star-studded adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic “Little Women.” The movie is shooting scenes in and around Boston, including stops in Stoughton, Concord, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lexington and Burlington. It is scheduled for release Dec. 25, 2019.

Along with Cooper, the cast of “Little Women” includes Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern and Saoirse Ronan.

“Diary of a Teenage Girl” director Marielle Heller is directing “You Are My Friend,” which centers on the real-life friendship between Fred Rogers (Hanks) and Esquire magazine journalist Tom Junod (Matthew Rhys), who finds his life transformed after writing a profile titled "Can You Say ... Hero?" about the beloved icon. Cooper plays the father of Rhys’ character. The movie is due in theaters Oct. 18, 2019.

Cooper has had roles in more than a dozen films, including “Seabiscuit,” “Live By Night” and “The Company Men.”

Cooper and his wife, actress-author Marianne Leone have lived in Kingston for more than 25 years.

‘SLEEPY HOLLOW’ IN PLYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH — “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is certainly something to lose your head over and a new local production gives the old tale a terrifyingly fresh spin as a one-man show, starring actor Stephen Pugh.

Written in 1820, Washington Irving’s narrative takes us to Sleepy Hollow, an isolated village outside New York City where a series of gruesome murders has taken place. One night, local schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, gets an unexpected shock when he is met on the road by the Headless Horseman.

Pugh makes his Americana Theatre Company debut with this show. His resume includes regional productions in Florida at Orlando Repertory Theater, Winter Garden Theater and Orlando Shakespeare Theater. He also played the title roles in “Beetlejuice” and “The Grinch” at Universal Studios Florida. This past summer he directed Annie the Musical with Boston Children’s Theater.

Presented by the Americana Theater Company, the “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was reimagined by Derek Martin, founding artistic director, who has recaptured all the fear and horror of the Irving tale.

A screening of the short film, “Landing of the Pilgrims: Restoring Sargent’s Monumental Painting” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., Plymouth.

Filmmaker Wes Ennis presents the film, which provides an in-depth look at the work done to conserve artist Henry Sargent’s Pilgrim masterpiece, which has hung in Pilgrim Hall Museum since its opening in 1824. An early milestone of American historical painting for its subject, size and execution, the painting had been on display for 191 years, when a team of conservators restored it in situ, with the visiting public as audience. The restored painting was unveiled in summer 2015.

Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Cost is a $5 suggested donation. For more information, contact Donna Curtin at donna.curtin@pilgrimhall.org or call 508-746-1620 or log onto pilgrimhall.org

GOOD GRIEF

You know your Halloween jam is watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," arguably the best of the holiday treats featuring the “Peanuts” characters created by the late Charles Schulz. The classic returns to the airwaves once again at 8 o'clock tonight (Thursday) on ABC.

Dana Barbuto may be reached at dbarbuto@patriotledger.com or follow her on Twitter @dbarbuto_Ledger.